Editor’s Note: We are proud to share following statement from Torat Chayim.
We are reminded once again of the precarious futures of the most marginalized among us. The Trump administration has announced an extension of a federal guidance introduced in 1999 that would negatively impact individuals with disabilities’ access to permanent residency. Focusing on limiting immigration for those who would potentially utilize social services such as government funded healthcare or disability services, this guidance places undue pressure on immigrants with disabilities to choose between accessing food and healthcare or remaining within the United States.
The Torah affirms the necessity of assisting those in our society who need our aid. Whether through the act of leaving your harvest at the edge of your field for the poor and the stranger (Lev. 23:22) or providing the means for others to be self-reliant through tzedakah, we are called upon to support and uplift immigrants with disabilities as they seek care and security in our country.
It is our responsibility as leaders in the Jewish community and beyond to unequivocally oppose the Trump administration’s attempts to target immigrants with disabilities and their families and urge the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider. As we were reminded at the seder a few weeks ago, we were slaves and strangers in Egypt and therefore we must ‘love the stranger as ourselves (Lev. 19:33-34); to not act for those targeted by this guidance would be unthinkable.
We encourage our communities to submit a public comment to the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services office with the Deputy Director: James.W.McCament@uscis.dhs.gov & the Director of USCIS: francis.Cissna@hq.dhs.gov.
Rabbi Barry Dolinger
Rabbi Daniel Geretz
Rabbi Marc Gitler
Rabbi Dr. Mel Gottlieb
Rabbi Dr. Yitz Greenberg
Rabbi Avram Herzog
Rabbi David Jaffe
Rabbi David Kalb
Rabbi Dr. Eugene Korn
Rabbi Aaron Levy
Rabbi Asher Lopatin
Rabbi Dr. Ariel Evan Mayse
Rabbi Dr. Yehudah Mirsky
Rabbi Avram Mlotek
Rosh Kehilah Dina Najman
Rabbi Micha Odenheimer
Rabbi Dr. David Rosen
Rabbi Gabriel Kretzmer Seed
Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller
Rabbi Ami Silver
Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein
Rabbi Devin Villarreal
Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz
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